We've used them for a couple of years now,have had no problems,except ones of our own making.Granted we don't do the volume that most of you guys do,but probably used 100 or so with no problems.Siemens or G.E. usally.

Joe,I don't have a problem with the use of the afci.My comment was directed towards past discussions here and all of those who oppose them.I see them increasing a contractors profit through material mark-up.IMO,if you install them in every house in the country,and they save 1 life,then they've paid for themselves.I followed the discussions here closely as well as Mike Holt's opinions and early on formed my opinion on them.

If someone opts to use AFCIs in lieu of rewiring an old K&T or ragwire house, and a resulting possible series arc causes a blaze that kills the occupant(s), then yes, I would have to say that they are a bad thing and have the potential to hurt someone by not doing what the name suggests that they do.

When they start putting "Surgeon General's Warnings" on them spelling out to Joe Public that they won't detect the very scenario that is most likely to cause a fire (loose terminals, splices, connections), then I'll be for 'em.

refer to "The Truth aboutAFCI's" pg 64 Jan/Feb 02' IAEI per Mr. George Gregory and Mr. Alan Manche (both Sq. D employees)note the 75A threshold comes out of the closet, something not apparent per UL1699 back in 1999 when my state first started installing these devices.

They are here to stay, that i'm convinced of.

Pick up a trade mag, any trade mag, and you'll realize all promotional articles are written by company reps.

All the stat's , cost/benifit analysis, all the pro's shine.

There exists no unbiased 'consumer reports' for our trade that openly scrutinizes any manufacturer right? That's because all these rags you get in the mail( most for free) are promoted by them.

Sure they're here to stay, and whatever else they wish will also......they've hammered this consistently for the last 4+ years , probably to a hefty $$$, but only due to thier projected PE ratio's, not your or little susie's safety.

The ad's don't need to make sense either, the pogniant picture of a firefighter hauling a child out of a burning building (with the CH or SQ D logo in the background)should be nuff said to shut down any nay sayer(s)

These sorts wrap themselves in a cloak of 'safety' while peddaling thier wares, while an arsenal of marketing and engineering discredits any dissident.

They know most the tradeborg will eventually be conditioned to the 'just one life' or similar sound bytes, and not delve into serious debate here.

How ironic it is to own older NEC's that the manufacturer's would advertise in, as opposed to present day, where the manufacturer's CMP seats write the codes, and the NEC advertises it'spublications.